Thrifters’ Resource: Lesser Known Brands to Look For

People ask me all the time about how I know which lesser-known brands are worth picking up at thrift stores – i.e. which are the expensive brands. I go about this in one of 2 ways. Some brands I recognize because I follow fashion industry accounts on social media and occasionally leaf through fashion magazines; I have a lamentably large capacity for storing mostly useless information, so I can recall brand names I saw in passing even years later.

Otherwise, every time I spot signs of a higher-quality garment but don’t immediately recognize to brand label, I look it up on my phone and see if there are any listings from sites from Lyst or Shopbop, or high-end retailers like Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus or Saks.

I thought it might be useful to share some of my recent (and not so recent) brand discoveries and/or labels that aren’t very well-known but which are worth watching out for; I hope this will serve as a resource for fellow thrifters/online bargain hunters.

Antipast – Created by textile designers Junko Jinushi and Kyoko Kato in 1991. Name references Italian appetizer that “sets anticipation for the meal to come”. Made in Japan. This skirt from the brand is one of my faves:

Oska – German brand started in 1997. Their website states that they have fully integrated production, the majority of which is done by 2 Czech partner companies. My skirt is, indeed, made in the Czech Republic:

Ovate – Canadian company founded in 2010. According to the website, all pieces are entirely handcrafted by 2 people (including the owner Audrey Cantwell) at their Montreal studio. All pieces are sold directly through their website or via the studio, and are made in very small quantities. I feel even luckier to have found one of their dresses:

Boo Radley – Australian brand founded in Melbourne in 2005. Sold in boutiques in Australia and New Zealand. According to their website, they manufacture their own clothes, although I wasn’t able to find a lot more information about that. Based on what I’ve seen locally (in thrift stores), they do lots of nice linen pieces – a sort of Eileen Fisher aesthetic. I have this one pair of linen pants I quite like:

Marc Cain – German brand founded in 1973. I would say it’s like a European Tory Burch in terms of aesthetic and retail price point. They do a lot of interesting prints (but nothing too gaudy) and details. Manufactured primarily in European countries; their knits are apparently now made at their own factory in Germany. I own several pieces, including this blazer (made in Romania):

Akris/Akris Punto – Swiss luxury brand founded in 1922. This is by no means a little-known brand – they do runway collections, after all – but for some reason it’s not as popular as, say, MaxMara. It’s basically a fancier, pricier MaxMara. Akris Punto is the “relaxed sportwear” line – i.e. the slightly less fancy side. Everything is made in Switzerland and, yeah, the quality is bananas. I currently only own one pair of pants from Akris Punto but this is a brand I consider a major score:

Crea Concept – French brand offering contemporary womens wear founded circa 2004. I could not find a lot of information about the company or its manufacturing practices online, but it’s sold at major department stores in the UK and boutiques like Blu’s here in Canada. I have found a few cool pieces at the thrift store including this silk skirt:

Barbara Bui – French high-end designer, who presented her first collection at Paris Fashion Week in 1987. Less boho than Isabel Marant, but still very much French girl chic. I think most pieces are made in France, including my cool wool-fringe skirt:

Suno (defunct) – American brand founded in 2008 (closed down 2016). It was designed in New York and made by local artisans in countries where the brand sourced fabrics (including Romania, Italy and Kenya). It won several CFDA awards, including for Womenswear Ethical Production in 2013. The skirt I have thrifted has the most beautiful hems I have seen on any garment:

by Malene Birger – Danish designer brand founded inn 1997. Similar aesthetic to Theory or Vince, similarly priced at retail. My tunic is made in China, but the website didn’t list a lot of concrete information about manufacturing practices:

Filippa K – Swedish company founded in 1993. Advertised as sustainable Scandi fashion. I recently thrifted a merino wool cardigan from this brand; although it’s made in China, the quality feels quite good. Retail prices appear to be on par with Vince, Rag & Bone, etc.

Modern Vice – Designer footwear brand founded and handmade in New York. Appear to be most famous for their boots, like the Jett style (which I was lucky enough to thrift recently); retail prices are $400USD and up.

Sarah Pacini – Designer brand from Belgium founded over 20 years ago. All pieces are made in Italy. Personally, it reminds me of a softer, more romantic Rick Owens aesthetic. One of my fave designers. I have thrifted quite a few pieces over the years, but this leather vest (secondhand from Red Pony Consignment) is one of the best:

Lida Baday (defunct) – Canadian high-end fashion designer; brand founded in 1987, going out of business in 2014. According to Wikipedia, she was called Canada’s equivalent to Calvin Klein (i.e. a classic, feminine, minimalist, sophisticated aesthetic). Her pieces hold up very well, and are great for work wear. I would put it on par with MaxMara. I have thrifted several pieces, including this blazer:

Iris & Ink – A contemporary womens wear brand launched in 2012 by The Outnet. Apparently the “Iris” part was inspired by Iris Apfel, one of the creative director’s favourite fashion icons. It’s not a high-end designer, but it’s marketed as “affordable luxury” (meaning retail price point starting around $100 and up). I recently spotted but didn’t thrift a lamb leather top from the brand.

Vanessa Bruno – French luxury designer who launched her label in 1996. I believe she has or had a diffusion line called Athe. According to Lyst, the “epitome of luxe, carefree Parisian style”. I no longer own this dress, but it was a very fun one:

Sea – New York-based brand founded in 2009. Similar aesthetic to Isabel Marant but with a NYC cool girl twist. I once spotted but didn’t thrift a blazer, which I still kind regret leaving behind. The finishing details were very, very nice.

I have limited the above list to brands I have personally spotted (or thrifted) here in Edmonton, so this is not exhaustive by any means. There are at least a dozen more lesser known brands that I have on my BOLO (be on the lookout) list, including Sezane, Polene (bags), Staud, and others.

If you have your own “hidden” gems, please share in the comments.